Construction firms are being urged to act quickly to ensure they get the new apprentices they need to overcome skills shortages.

The warning comes from the North East office of the Construction Industry Training Board, the region's largest managing agent for construction industry apprentices, which will be providing nearly £6 million to fund new places for 700 youngsters with local companies - up from 650 last year.

The CITB's Skills Foresight Report says that over 3,500 new recruits will be required each year in the North East over the next five years to enable firms to deliver against current and future order books.

However, firms have been slow to register their recruitment plans with the CITB and this could cause difficulties in matching youngsters with the opportunities available for them.